The way companies allow people to “be themselves” at work has important implications. Understanding and cultivating a healthy culture, where employees feel safe to be honest about who they are, can be key to retention, consistency and growth; According to Russell Reynold’s H2 2023 Global Leadership Monitor, seeking a different company culture was the top reason CPG leaders left their organizations in the past year, outranking career advancement and better pay.

Virgin Atlantic’s inclusion strategy and ‘Be Yourself’ agenda champions individuality, emphasizing the belief that everyone can progress no matter who they are or how they identify. Virgin removed restrictions around visible tattoos, gave the choice of wearing make-up and scrapped gender-based uniforms; and job applications soared.

Whilst embracing individuality, it is also important to create a space where people feel safe to do so. Leading companies — Google, Gartner and Microsoft — have already identified psychological safety as the key element to unlocking team potential, emphasizing the importance of creating an environment where employees feel safe to be their true self and take chances without fear and with sufficient protection.